Second time lucky. After the cancellation of last weeks race it was a relief to see that this Sunday gradually turned into a benign afternoon. Sunshine and autumn colours, the only thing missing was a consistent wind. The start, at 1200, was promising with a steady ESE at F2, gusting at F3, but it tailed off after an hour or so.

Eight boats rigged and from the start James Armitage with Felicia Bierkark (Enterprise) took the lead with Rob Adams (Laser) in attendance. It was a beat down to Chiswick Bridge amongst quite a crowd of rowers and the vigorous tacking continued around the Barnes bends and on to Corney Reach. The perfect sailing wind gradually died at this stage. James managed to keep his momentum and led by about 300m with Rob apparently becalmed on the Middlesex bank. The Browns (Enterprise) followed Rob with a pair of Lasers (Ben Chappell and Keith Clarke) and Ian Nethersell (Vibe) close behind. The tail enders – Tim Young (Wanderer) and Toby (Laser) were by then just emerging from Barnes Bridge. Forward progress was provided in the main by the ebb tide.

In consultation with James, Nick Jeffery (and family) in the safety boat dropped a buoy just at the downstream end of Chiswick Eyot. James rounded the mark and started a goose-winged return, followed at some distance by Rob. The following pack of the Browns, Ben, Keith and Ian swapped places many times as the tide brought them down to the mark, but Ben proudly rounded the mark in third place.

The wind at that point died to the extent of just being enough to master the dying ebb tide and the return upriver was much slower than the downstream leg. From the point of view of the middle of the fleet James was soon out of sight beyond Barnes Bridge and we thought that was the last we’d see of him. Gradually, as the middle pack caught up with Rob, the flooding tide brought Tim and Toby up to them and, once through Barnes Bridge we were surprised to see James almost within reach, apparently becalmed, in the approaches to Chiswick Bridge. And so as the flood tide compressed the fleet, James finished at the Railway Bridge seven minutes ahead of Rob, who was two seconds ahead of the Browns, who were one minute and 18 seconds ahead of Keith; 15 seconds ahead of Ben; 35 seconds ahead of Toby; 54 seconds ahead of Tim. The handicap sums made a significant difference to that finishing order, except for the triumph of James (see below).

At least there were plenty of bodies to haul the boats back up the muddy foreshore and into the arch. And there, miraculously, was a barbeque of sausages and a feast of other contributions: Margaret Berger’s soup, Mary B’s flapjack, Heather Adams’ chocolate cakes, Polish dumplings, Steve Newell’s excellent home brew, and much else. Andy Ross, as well as being OOD, had organised and lit the barbeque while the sailors toiled and drifted on the tranquil river, for which many thanks.

And there was plenty of good company of all ages to celebrate the end of the season, including nonagenarians Marthe Armitage (founder member) and Margaret Berger.

HB

We cancelled the scheduled last race on 4th November because of a lousy weather forecast and a horrible start to the day. In fact the rain stayed away, but so did the wind. So it would have been a drift at best.

We are hoping for better luck this Sunday, 13th November. It will be a D-course (Hammersmith and back) with a start at 12:00.

Beer and Bangers will follow, starting at 14:00.

All welcome.

A dry, but warm afternoon, D course. Variable wind conditions – SE 2 gusting 4.

Four boats assembled on the foreshore.

Felicia and daughter Tamina in Chris’s Leader and three lasers: Rob in Phoebe, Keith in Kaia and Toby (guest) in unnamed Ema’s boat. The boats rigged with Toby a welcomed visitor to Strand being kindly assisted by Rob.

All boats managed to make the start of the D course. Race commenced 12.45pm.

 A smart quick start was made with Felicia racing into the lead, on the Surrey Reach, closely followed by Rob and Keith and Toby. Unfortunately, Keith on the Middlesex Bank ran aground just after the Strand End Pier losing him ground.

All boats passed through Chiswick Bridge OK with Rob breaking into the lead.

Amazingly, through the Bridge the boats were astonished to be greeted by a seal. The race continued with the seal unconcerned by the boats. In fact Tim in the safety boat, approached the seal and entered into a one way conversation – but without a reply.

The race continued in the same order through Barnes Bridge and on to the downstream buoy which Tim had laid, wisely, just short of the Corinthian Sailing Club, opposite Chiswick Eyot.

With the wind gusting, both the Lasers of Toby and Keith capsized. Keith 5 times but managed to continue without a concern. Toby capsized once but a dry capsize, no problem.

After rounding the downstream buoy and recovering from the capsizes etc the race conditions were more favourable with the wind and tide with them back to Strand.

The race order remained the same back to Strand – Rob leading, followed by Felicia and Tamina with Toby and Keith at the rear. Everyone enjoyed the sail.

The stars were Felicia and Tamina, well sailed. Plus, of course Tim and the Seal.

The handicap calculations (below) gave the winners Handicap Points to Toby and Class and Polly Prize to Rob. Felicia was second in the Class and Polly points.

Next week is the last race of the season (an A-course) at 11:20, to be followed in traditional style by Beer and Bangers at around 14:00.   All are welcome.

John Bull (OOD)

What an unexpected warm and sunny day for our race this Sunday! The Thames path was, as usual, filled with a cheerful crowd and at 13:00 five crews met at the Club ready to sail. Kirsty, who recently joined, courageously tried his new Solo but decided it was best to join the race another time. We therefore started with four boats and James Armitage and his crew, young Tamase, in Zephyr immediately took the lead.

Following Zephyr, a skilled Robert Adams with his Laser contended with Chris Greenwood and Felicia Bierkark in Chris’ Leader and proceed well ahead of them from the first lap. Nick Floyer in his Gull had an unfortunate start being trapped in the ropes of an abandoned inflatable dinghy but did not despair and beautifully set off at last. 

The race ended at about 3pm with James leading in 4 laps, followed by Robert, Chris and Felicia and finally Nick, who managed to run two laps in just over an hour. 

OOD: Heather Adams; Safety boat: Rob Adams; D-Course starting at 1440.

A lovely Autumn day but with little wind from the NW. Five starters arrived at the line James with Nikita, Chris and Felicia, Tim, Nick and Keith.

A running start saw the fleet cruise off down river at a slow pace. The fleet kept well bunched with the slower boats blanking the faster, not allowing them to get away through Chiswick bridge. The wind became more confused with James getting a small advantage. However, Rob in the rescue boat noticed a rapid change in the tide the fleet were not going to make Barnes railway bridge. A mark was laid on the Middlesex shore short of the old Thames Tradesmen Rowing Club (now demolished). With James now becalmed on the Surrey shore the fleet threatened to overtake him in a breeze that appeared in the middle of the river. In the end it was Keith who rounded the turning mark first, with the buoy cocked upstream confirming the incoming tide had arrived. The race was now a beat back home and the recent form book fell back into place with James and Nikita tacking well ahead of Chris and Felicia, followed by Keith then Tim and not far behind Nick. I suspect that the on the water result may be reverse once the handicaps are applied.

Heather Adams

PS. The Master of Sums is away but will calculate and publish the results as soon as possible.

And here they are …

It was an overcast day with a distinct autumnal chill in the 5-6 knot WNW breeze: perfect for the planned B-course.

Six boats came up river from South Bank: 3 Enterprises; a Laser; a Xenon, and a Merlin, together with an attendant safety boat. They beached on the slimy foreshore downstream of the railway bridge and made use of our sumptuous facilities, including tea and coffee.

They were matched by nine Strand boats: James Armitage and Lev Kolobov in Enterprises, Rob Adams, Joseph Armitage and Keith Clarke in Lasers; Sam Shemtob’s Wayfarer; Ian Nethersell’s Vibe; Tim Young’s Wanderer and Nick Floyer’s Gull.

The downwind start, against the flood tide, presented the choice of seeking the relatively slack water on either side of the river. 14 boats chose the Middlesex side and only one SBSC Enterprise (Allan Munro-Faure) chose the Surrey side. He was correct and rounded the downstream mark (at Chiswick Staithe) well ahead of the others. After the beat back upstream and rounding the upstream mark (opposite 7 Strand on the Green) he was 30 seconds ahead of Joe Armitage’s Laser with his Dad two seconds behind.

The first lap took around 19 minutes for the leaders. The second lap was faster with practically all the fleet following the Surrey bank and at the end of it Joe led James by 20 seconds with Allan 6 seconds behind. The wind dropped significantly during the second lap, spreading the fleet and catching Nick Floyer on the wrong side of the downstream mark.

It was clear that we’d had the best of the afternoon wind and Mary Brown (OOD) decided to end the race at the third lap as the leaders approached the hour. The finishing order was James, 54 seconds ahead of Joe, 11 seconds ahead of Allan Munro-Faure. Lev was close behind as was the sleek Merlin of SBSC’s A Molyneux.

The Challenge Cup is a team trophy and goes to the Club with the lowest total score when the positions of the first six boats in each club are added up. The result was a convincing win for SGSC .

Afterwards – what a feast. Steve Newells home-brew helped to wash down a wide variety of goodies from barbequed sausages (many thanks to Leona Shepherd), through buns and cakes to a triffle. Many thanks to all concerned, especially our SBSC visitors, for an epic afternoon.